England once again negotiated South Africa's new-ball burst after being inserted, but Cook was given out caught down the leg-side off Morne Morkel by New Zealand official Billy Bowden after the ball brushed the batsman's trousers on the way through.

England skipper Michael Vaughan lasted only seven balls before he fell to a Graeme Smith slip catch off Dale Steyn for a duck, and England were struggling at 27 for two.